2,000 physicians, 6000 nurses to be recruited to combat COVID-19

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said her government has already initiated the process of appointing 2000 more physicians and 6000 nurses to ensure treatment of the coronavirus infected patients.

“We are going to appoint more 2000 physicians and 6000 nurses at the quickest possible time to ensure treatment of the coronavirus patients,” she said while exchanging views with the officials and public representatives of the districts of Rajshahi division over the COVID-19 situation through video conference from her official Ganabhaban residence here on Monday morning.

She said the process to this end has already started, adding that, “I myself has already made it (the process of appointing more 2000 doctors and 6000 nurses) okay”.

The premier said doctors will be recruited from those who have passed the BCS examinations (earlier), adding that after recruitment of the physicians and nurses, all of them will be given special training on how to treat COVID-19 patients.

She reiterated that her government has already taken initiatives to install Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in every district in phases.

In this context, she said, “We have already decided to set up ICU in every district in phases as no problem to be surfaced in giving treatment to patients anywhere.”

Sheikh Hasina said her government is taking every possible measure in line with the guideline of the World Health Organisation (WHO) to save people’s lives from the very beginning of the coronavirus outbreak in China.

Referring to statistics of global deaths and infections by the COVID-19, she said the situation of Bangladesh is comparatively well due to the timely intervention of her government.

The premier said as many as 3964 physicians have been entrusted with giving healthcare services to all through online or telephone spelling out her government’s measures to save lives of the people.

She said the government has been attaching priority to protect the physicians, nurses and health activists who are rendering healthcare services to COVID-19 patients.

Referring to arrangement of better treatment for a physician infected with the coronavirus after bringing him in Dhaka from Khulna by helicopter, the premier said, “We have been taking all possible measures for ensuring protection of the health activists and doctors who are giving healthcare services to COVID-19 patients risking their lives.”

In this context, she said that her government has already announced incentives for them.

The premier said her government has already collected 15,16,190 pieces of personal protection equipments (PPEs) and distributed 12,22,800 among the health activists, physicians and nurses to ensure their protection.

Mentioning that her government’s efforts are on to collect more PPEs, she said, “We are always collecting the PPEs.”

The prime minister once again asked all to maintain the stay-at-home guideline and voluntary home quarantine policies as well as avoid mass gatherings as a part of the precautionary measures to protect themselves from the COVID-19 as it is highly contagious disease.